37 Famous People From Iowa | Celebrities Who Were Born in Iowa

Famous People From Iowa

Iowa may be known for its vast cornfields and agricultural roots, but the Midwestern state has also been home to many famous figures throughout history. From groundbreaking politicians to pioneering artists, Iowa’s small-town roots have launched the careers of several household names.

Here is a look at some of the most famous people who hail from or spent time in Iowa on their path to fame and making their impact on the world.

Ashton Kutcher

Actor and entrepreneur Ashton Kutcher was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1978. He was raised in Homestead alongside his twin brother Michael on their family farm.

Kutcher landed his breakout role as Michael Kelso on the popular sitcom “That ‘70s Show” in 1998. He went on to star in hit romantic comedies like “Dude, Where’s My Car?” and “What Happens in Vegas.” He currently stars in the Netflix series “The Ranch.”

Beyond acting, Kutcher is a successful investor in tech startups. He was an early investor in companies like Skype, Airbnb, Spotify and Uber.

Elijah Wood

Actor Elijah Wood was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1981. He began modeling and acting in commercials at age 7 and had his film debut in “Back to the Future Part II” in 1989.

Wood is best known for portraying Frodo Baggins in the legendary “Lord of the Rings” trilogy throughout the early 2000s. He has over 90 acting credits and continues performing in films, TV and video games.

John Wayne

Iconic actor John Wayne was born as Marion Robert Morrison in Winterset, Iowa in 1907. His family relocated to California when he was a child.

Wayne rose to fame portraying rugged cowboys and soldiers in classic Western films. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the 1969 film “True Grit.”

With over 170 acting credits, John Wayne became renowned for his strong, masculinity on-screen presence and American patriotism. He remains one of Hollywood's biggest stars.

Andy Williams

Singer and TV host Andy Williams was born in Wall Lake, Iowa in 1927. Known for his wholesome style, Williams had 17 Gold albums and 3 Platinum albums over his career spanning 1952 to the 1990s.

Some of Williams’ hit songs include “Moon River,” “Days of Wine and Roses” and “Music to Watch Girls By.” He hosted the variety show “The Andy Williams Show” on NBC from 1962 to 1967.

Brandon Routh

Actor Brandon Routh was born in Norwalk, Iowa in 1979. He had his breakthrough role playing the titular superhero in “Superman Returns” in 2006.

Routh's other major roles include Daniel Shaw on NBC’s “Chuck” and Ray Palmer / The Atom on The CW’s “Arrowverse” shows. He currently stars as Dr. Henry Morgan on the series “The Rookie.”

Jason Momoa

Although not born in Iowa, actor Jason Momoa spent his early childhood years in Norwalk. His mother taught at Norwalk High School.

Momoa launched to fame playing Khal Drogo in the megahit HBO series “Game of Thrones” and the DC Comics superhero Aquaman. He continues being one of Hollywood’s most sought-after leading men.

Simon Estes

Opera singer Simon Estes was born in Centerville, Iowa in 1938. He overcame racial barriers as a young black opera singer to become one of the world’s foremost bass-baritones.

Estes performed with top opera companies including the Metropolitan Opera, Deutsche Opera Berlin, and La Scala. He was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President George H.W. Bush in 1991 in honor of his musical accomplishments.

Michael Emerson

Award-winning actor Michael Emerson was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1954. He is best known for his Emmy-winning role as Benjamin Linus on the hit ABC series “Lost.”

Emerson has also earned acclaim for his work on shows like “Person of Interest,” “Evil” and “Westworld.” His extensive acting career includes over 130 credits in film, television and theater.

Shawn Johnson

Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson was born in Des Moines, Iowa in 1992. One of the country’s premier gymnasts, she won the all-around competition at the 2007 World Championships.

Johnson became an Olympic Champion in the balance beam competition at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She earned additional silver and gold medals for the team and floor competitions.

Jay Norvell

Football coach Jay Norvell was born in Madison, Wisconsin but grew up in Iowa. He played at Iowa State University and began his coaching career at his Iowa alma mater in the 1980s.

Norvell has been the head football coach at the University of Nevada, Reno since 2017. Before that, he made assistant coaching stops with programs like Nebraska, UCLA, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Tom Arnold

Actor and comedian Tom Arnold was born in Ottumwa, Iowa in 1959. He first worked at a meatpacking plant before starting stand-up comedy in the early 1980s.

Arnold became a popular comedic actor in films like “Nine Months” and “True Lies.” He was married to comedian Roseanne Barr from 1990 to 1994 and hosted Fox Sports Net's “The Best Damn Sports Show Period.”

Johnny Carson

Legendary late night TV host Johnny Carson spent over 30 years charming viewers as host of “The Tonight Show.” He was born in Corning, Iowa in 1925.

Carson got his start in radio before transitioning to TV comedy writing in the 1950s. His tenure hosting “The Tonight Show” from 1962 to 1992 made him one of the most iconic personalities on television.

Buffy Sainte-Marie

Award-winning folk singer Buffy Sainte-Marie was born on the Piapot Plains Cree First Nation Reservation in Qu'Appelle Valley, Saskatchewan but was later adopted and raised in Wakefield, Iowa.

Sainte-Marie’s 1964 song “Universal Soldier” became one of the most famous anti-war anthems. She was active in the music scene throughout the 1960s and 70s. She continues recording music and has over 17 albums.

Jean Seberg

Film actress and civil rights activist Jean Seberg was born in Marshalltown, Iowa in 1938. She first rose to prominence co-starring in “Saint Joan” in 1957.

Seberg's most famous role came as the lead in Jean-Luc Godard's 1960 film “Breathless.” She continued acting until her still-unsolved death in 1979. Her advocacy for civil rights groups like the NAACP drew FBI surveillance.

Cloris Leachman

Oscar and Emmy-winning actress Cloris Leachman was born in Des Moines, Iowa in 1926. She began competing in pageants as a teenager, representing Chicago in the 1946 Miss America pageant.

Leachman's extensive career spanned over seven decades. Some of her most notable roles included Phyllis Lindstrom on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and Frau Blücher in “Young Frankenstein.”

Ann Landers

Esther “Eppie” Lederer, best known by her pen name Ann Landers, revolutionized the advice column genre. She was born in Sioux City, Iowa in 1918.

Lederer took over the Ann Landers syndicated column in 1955. Her witty, straight-talking relationship and etiquette advice reached millions of readers worldwide. She authored several bestselling books before her death in 2002.

Macdonald Carey

Actor Macdonald Carey was born in Sioux City, Iowa in 1913. After studying law at the University of Iowa, he caught the acting bug and headed to Hollywood in 1938.

Carey found rapid success in films like “Shadow of a Doubt.” But his most famous role was kind patriarch Tom Horton on the soap opera “Days of Our Lives.” He received Lifetime Achievement Emmy Awards prior to his death in 1994.

Donna Reed

Academy Award-winning actress Donna Reed was born Donna Belle Mullenger in Denison, Iowa in 1921. After attending Los Angeles City College, she signed a contract with MGM Studios.

Reed rose to fame after her role in “It’s a Wonderful Life” in 1946. She portrayed Miss Ellie Ewing in the original TV series “Dallas” and starred as Donna Stone in “The Donna Reed Show” in the late 1950s to 60s.

Jessica Hecht

Film, TV and stage actress Jessica Hecht was born in Princeton, New Jersey but was raised in Bloomfield, Iowa for much of her childhood.

Hecht received a Special Tony Award in 2013 for her ensemble performance in “The Assembled Parties.” She also appeared as Susan Bunch on “Breaking Bad” and Carol on “Friends.”

Brandi Chastain

Retired soccer champion Brandi Chastain was born in San Jose, California but her family relocated to Davenport, Iowa when she was an infant.

Chastain helped lead the U.S. women’s national soccer team to two World Cup victories in 1991 and 1999. Her game-winning penalty kick and celebratory bra-revealing moment in 1999 made her an international icon.

Paul Engemann

Singer, songwriter and musician Paul Engemann was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa in 1957. He was the lead singer of the band Device, best known for their hit “Hanging on a Heart Attack” in the 1980s.

Engemann also performed the popular theme song for the animated series “The Transformers.” He continues to work as a musician and voice actor in Los Angeles.

Iowa’s Lasting Cultural Impact

This diverse range of talented celebrities proves that Iowa’s friendly small-town roots can give rise to some of the world’s biggest stars across entertainment, sports, politics and the arts. The Midwestern state's low-key charm seems to breed humble, hardworking icons who achieve greatness.

From legendary innovators like Ashton Kutcher and Andy Williams to pop culture phenomena like Elijah Wood’s hobbit Frodo, Iowa will continue exporting unforgettable celebrities who make a global footprint. The Hawkeye State no doubt deserves more appreciation for its contributions to the arts and culture.

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